By Derek Samson

updated 5:31 a.m. ET Aug. 8, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Forget running with the bulls, jumping off cliffs or ticking off Danica.

There's a new death-defying act in sports these days.

Suggest to Oklahoma it can't win the big one. Or, more precisely, the big bowl.

Safety Nic Harris glares as if someone just let Bevo relieve himself on OU's practice field. And Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, well, get ready. He doesn't go Gundy — more like a high school principal explaining why he's about to dole out 20 hours of detention.

The first question to kick off the recent Big 12 media days was directed at Stoops and concerned OU's consecutive Fiesta Bowl meltdowns (only it was worded much kinder). Stoops ripped off a 300-word reply — seriously, it was 300 words exactly — in which he blamed the losses on everything short of global warming.

And perhaps a finger pointed toward melting glaciers, as well, but most of the room was sliding into REM sleep after roughly the 250th word in his response.

So here is the Cliffs Notes version of Stoops' explanation for the bowl failures:

• "We played the No. 1 team (Missouri) in the country for the Big 12 Championship and played pretty well, winning in a strong way. Everyone is complimenting you for three or four weeks leading up to the game."

• "The other team (West Virginia) gets beat at the end of the year or has something to prove. That's a factor in every game, in every BCS game or any bowl game."

• "There are always factors with players that are already graduated."

• "There are factors when you also don't have your full team. We had four starters not in the game. That doesn't help you."

• "It's obvious you're playing another championship team, and if you're not at your best, you're not going to fare too well."

Stoops concluded there "isn't any one good answer." But the supply of marginal ones appeared endless.

No doubt, Oklahoma has won its share of mega matchups recently. In 2007 alone, the Sooners blasted Miami 51-13, edged Texas for the sixth time in nine tries under Stoops and beat Missouri twice, once when the Tigers had climbed to No. 1 nationally.

But here are the lasting memories of the past five seasons:

2003: Lost final two games — the Big 12 championship to Kansas State and the BCS championship to LSU.

2004: Destroyed by Southern California 55-19 in the BCS title game.

2005: Beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.

2006: Played the role of Goliath in Boise State's remarkable overtime upset in the Fiesta Bowl.

2007: Another woodshed episode, losing the Fiesta Bowl to West Virginia 48-28.

In their last three BCS bowls, the Sooners have allowed a combined 146 points.

Season previews NBCSports.com is ready for the 2008-09 season. Check out our conference previews as part of our expanded coverage. Non-BCS teams, Ind. ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Pac-10 SEC

Cue Harris' grimacing glare.

"It's frustrating when you come out and guys pile up yards, put points on the board," he said. "Rome wasn't built in a day. The past couple years, we've been building Rome, building Rome, building Rome, until we get to the point where we need to be.

"You'll see when it's finished."

Harris claimed not to know what happens to the Sooners when they play games in January.

"I'm not a coach," he said. "I can't make that judgment."

Pressed further — very carefully, mind you — Harris acknowledged he might have an inclination of the problem.

"We had mental breakdowns, mental letdowns," he said. "The whole mentality right now is WTLG. Win the last game."

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures A Flyin’ Lion, an onrushing Tide, hard hoops fouls and more. more photos

Another wise move: Stoops reminding his audience repeatedly of his Big 12 dominance.

This is, after all, Big 12 media days. And Stoops owns the Big 12 with five championships since 2000.

In this setting, Stoops remains "Big Game Bob."

"We've been in six Big 12 championships, and we won five of them," Stoops said. "We're doing something right. We know how to win those games, and we'll manage these others the best we can."

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

OU or Texas? We already settled that   SEC takes top 2 spots, while OU passes Texas AP, coaches', Harris Top 25 rankings Vote: Who should be ranked Nos. 1-2 now? Heisman Hopefuls: Bradford, Tebow on top Projections for all 34 bowl games New No. 2? Surging Sooners trounce Tech Penn State wins Big Ten, likely headed to Rose Unbeaten Utah wraps up BCS bowl bid Oregon St. one win from first Rose Bowl since '65 College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: